Illinois Woman In Labor Votes Before Going To Hospital

Now that’s dedication! Illinois mama-to-be Galacia Malone stopped at her local voting station to vote while her contractions were still five minutes apart. Once she voted, she dashed off to the hospital to give birth. Amazing. [ABC News]

Women in the military say that sexual assault is still very much a problem. [New York Times]

How a Tea Party-affiliated group is targeting transgender voters. [Raw Story]

Singer Miranda Lambert on why she wants more women in country music. [CMT]

MTV’s “Underemployed” has the best new lesbian character on TV. [After Ellen]

Teri Shields, the mother of actress Brooke Shields and her daughter’s manager, has died at age 79. [New York Times]

INTERNATIONAL

The sister of one of men who shot Malala Yousufazi, the 14-year-old Pakistani girl who advocated for women’s rights, has apologized to Malala. “He has brought shame on our family,” the young woman said. [CNN]

A historic mausoleum in Mumbai, India, has banned women from its most sacred area. [New York Times]

Women in Saudi Arabia must uncover their faces for security checks, a council appointed by the king has ruled. [Reuters]

Catching up with Bibi Aisha, the young Afghani woman whose relatives cut off her face and ears after she fled their home to escape abuse. [The Daily Beast]